Truth and Trust are Essential to a Democracy - Both Have Been Undermined by the Republicans

Pelosi: ‘Truth and Trust are Essential to a Democracy - Both Have Been Undermined by the Republicans'

Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined Congressmen Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), James Clyburn (D-SC), and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) at a news conference this morning to discuss Democratic efforts to get Congress back on track on the 11th anniversary of the Republicans' "Contract with America." Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"Good morning. Thank you, Rahm Emanuel, for your tremendous leadership and your great statement, making the distinction between Democrats and Republicans.

"Eleven years ago, the Republicans stood on the steps of the Capitol and pronounced a ‘Contract with America' and said, ‘If we do not honor this contract, we should be thrown out of office.' On this one point, Democrats agree with Republicans.

"If you need further evidence of it, you need only look to the budget. The Republicans have taken us trillions of dollars into debt with their mismanagement of the budget. If you look to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and see how they have handled these natural disasters, turn them into man-made disasters, and now they will probably turn them into financial disasters.

"Democrats stand for opportunity, for jobs, for education, for health care, for a clean environment, for an ethical government, and for a safe and secure America. We stand ready to compare our agenda for a better future and new patriotism for this new century.

"What is immediate is to meet the needs of the American people, now. And those most in need are those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As we gather here this morning, the Republicans are having a whitewash committee hearing instead of doing what the American people want and what the American people deserve. An independent commission will give truth to the American people and make them safer. Truth and trust are essential to a democracy - both have been undermined by the Republicans.

"Every day we see a culture of corruption, incompetence, and cronyism in Washington, D.C.

"On Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Democrats stand ready to protect the American people, to protect the interests of them as victims of the hurricanes, as taxpayers, and as consumers. For victims of the storm, we are fighting for immediate relief that really helps them - that doesn't say go home and make a lower wage than you did before you left. Their economic viability and success is important.

"Today, we are introducing legislation with Congressman Henry Waxman to protect the American people against cronyism. Last week, we did honesty in contracting. In addition to that, in terms of protecting the consumer, Congressman Bart Stupak introduced legislation that would stop price gouging at the gas pump.

"Survivors, taxpayers, consumers, all of the American people need to be defended from the policies of the Republicans. So not only did they not honor their own Contract with America, not only are they out of touch with the American people, not only have they mismanaged trillions of dollars of the American people's money, but they broke the social compact to meet the needs of people in time of a natural disaster, and that is in stark contrast to what the Democrats are proposing.

"Clearly, it is time for a change."

http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/articles.cfm?pressReleaseID=1197